Disc drive actuator assembly with bearing cooling

ABSTRACT

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a disc drive actuator assembly including an e-block, a plurality of bearings, and one or more heat transfer components. The heat transfer component(s) operates to conductively draw heat from the plurality of bearings through the e-block, and convectively dissipate the heat into an atmosphere in contact therewith. The heat transfer component(s) mitigates temperature rise of the bearings during operation of a disc drive, thereby mitigating bearing lubricant outgassing from within the bearings.

BACKGROUND

Disc drives are used for data storage in modern electronic productsranging from audio players to computer systems and networks. A discdrive typically includes a mechanical portion, or head disc assembly(HDA), and electronics in the form of a printed circuit board assembly(PCBA), mounted to an outer surface of the HDA. The PCBA controls HDAfunctions and provides an interface between the disc drive and its host.An HDA includes moving parts such as one or more storage mediums affixedto a spindle motor assembly for rotation at a constant speed, anactuator assembly supporting an array of transducers (e.g.,magnetoresistive or other) that traverse generally concentric datatracks radially spaced across surfaces of the storage mediums, and avoice coil motor (VCM) providing rotational motion to the actuatorassembly. In operation, the spindle motor rapidly rotates the storagemediums and the VCM positions the transducers above the data tracks toaccess (read and/or write) the data stored on the storage mediums.

SUMMARY

Various example embodiments are directed to apparatuses and/or methodsthat mitigate the escape of vapor and/or evaporated lubricant from abearing cartridge assembly by reducing the operating temperature of suchbearing cartridge assemblies. One or more of these embodiments may beparticularly applicable, for example, to disc drives which includemechanical components particularly sensitive to foreign substances suchas condensed lubricant. For example, condensed lubricant may accumulateon a head or data surface of storage mediums causing read/write errors,or otherwise affecting the performance of the disc drive. Accordingly,aspects of the present disclosure mitigate or prevent the outgassing ofsuch lubricant from the bearing cartridge assembly by controlling thebearing cartridge assembly temperature to limit vaporization andoutgassing of the lubricant. In conjunction with one or more suchembodiments, it has been discovered that various embodiments of thepresent disclosure can significantly reduce vapor and/or evaporatedlubricant escaping from the bearing cartridge assembly, thereby greatlyextending the functional life of a disc drive.

According to various example embodiments, aspects of the presentdisclosure are directed toward a disc drive actuator assembly includingan e-block, a plurality of bearings, and one or more heat transfercomponents. The e-block facilitates read and write access of a pluralityof storage mediums by positioning a transducer relative to the pluralityof storage mediums. The plurality of bearings located within the e-blockfacilitate rotation of the e-block around a pivot shaft of a disc drivebase deck (“rotationally coupled”). The one or more heat transfercomponents are thermally coupled to the e-block (e.g., coupled to aninterior or exterior surface), and mitigate temperature rise of theplurality of bearings during operation of a disc drive by conductivelydrawing heat from the plurality of bearings through the e-block. Oncethe heat is drawn to the one or more heat transfer components, the heatis convectively dissipated from surfaces thereof into an atmosphere incontact therewith. In yet more specific embodiments, the one or moreheat transfer components mitigate outgassing of bearing lubricant fromwithin the plurality of bearings by limiting increases in temperature ofthe bearing during operation of the disc drive, via the heatdissipation.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward amethod for mitigating temperature rise of a plurality of bearings in adisc drive apparatus, and/or for providing a disc drive apparatus thatmitigates temperature rise. One such method involves providing a basedeck including a pivot shaft and a cavity, an e-block, a plurality ofbearings, and one or more heat transfer components. The one or more heattransfer components are provided for convectively dissipating the heatfrom the one or more heat transfer components into an atmosphere incontact therewith. The pivot shaft and cavity of the base deck providefor the coupling of the storage mediums to the base deck. The e-blockfacilitates read and write access of the plurality of storage mediums bypositioning one or more transducers coupled to the e-block over theplurality of storage mediums, and each of the bearings includes innerraces, outer races, and a plurality of balls there between. The innerrace of each bearing is coupled to the pivot shaft of the disc drive,the outer race of each bearing is coupled to the e-block, and theplurality of bearings facilitate rotation of the e-block around thepivot shaft. The one or more heat transfer components are coupled to thee-block and conductively coupled via the e-block to the plurality ofbearings.

In various implementations, the method further includes operating thedisc drive apparatus by causing the e-block to rotate about the pivotshaft via the plurality of bearings, and mitigating temperature rise ofthe plurality of bearings during operation of the disc drive apparatus.The temperature rise is mitigated by conductively transferring heatinduced by rotation of the plurality of bearings through the e-block tothe one or more heat transfer components, and convectively dissipatingthe heat from the one or more heat transfer components into anatmosphere in contact therewith.

The above discussion/summary is not intended to describe each embodimentor every implementation of the present disclosure. The figures anddetailed description that follow also exemplify various embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Various example embodiments may be more completely understood inconsideration of the following detailed description in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a top view of a disc drive, consistent with various aspectsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a disc drive actuatorassembly of FIG. 1A, consistent with various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a disc drive actuator assembly,consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a disc drive actuator assembly,consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is an isometric view of a disc drive actuator assembly,consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the disc drive actuatorassembly of FIG. 4A, consistent with various aspects of the presentdisclosure.

While various embodiments discussed herein are amenable to modificationsand alternative forms, aspects thereof have been shown by way of examplein the drawings and will be described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention tothe particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention isto cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe scope of the disclosure including aspects defined in the claims. Inaddition, the term “example” as used throughout this application is onlyby way of illustration, and not limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various example embodiments are directed to apparatuses and/or methodsthat mitigate the escape of vapor and/or evaporated lubricant from abearing cartridge assembly by maintaining or controlling the operatingtemperature of the bearing cartridge assembly. In variousimplementations, the temperature of the bearings is maintained below atarget temperature at which vaporization of lubricant is mitigated orprevented. One or more of these embodiments may be particularlyapplicable, for example, to disc drives that include mechanicalcomponents sensitive to foreign substances such as condensed lubricant.For example, condensed lubricant may accumulate on a head or datasurface of storage mediums causing read/write errors, or otherwiseaffecting the performance of the disc drive. Accordingly, aspects of thepresent disclosure mitigate or prevent the outgassing of such lubricantfrom the bearing cartridge assembly by maintaining the bearing cartridgeassembly at a temperature that limits vaporization and outgassing of thelubricant, therein addressing the aforementioned issues. Whileembodiments of the present disclosure are not necessarily so limited todisc drive applications, various aspects may be appreciated through adiscussion of examples using this context.

One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed toward a disc driveactuator assembly including an e-block, a plurality of bearings, and oneor more heat transfer components. The e-block facilitates read and writeaccess of a plurality of storage mediums by positioning a transducerrelative to the storage mediums. The bearings are located within thee-block facilitate rotation of the e-block around a pivot shaft of adisc drive base deck. The one or more heat transfer components arethermally coupled to a surface of the e-block, and mitigate temperaturerise of the bearings during operation of a disc drive by conductivelydrawing heat from the bearings through the e-block. Once the heat isdrawn to the heat transfer components, the heat is convectivelydissipated from surfaces of the heat transfer components into anatmosphere in contact therewith. In yet more specific embodiments, theheat transfer components mitigate outgassing of bearing lubricant fromwithin the bearings by limiting increases in temperature of the bearinglubricant during operation of the disc drive via such heat dissipation.In conjunction with these and other aspects of the present disclosure,it has been discovered that the escape of vapor and/or evaporatedlubricant from the bearing cartridge assembly can be significantlyreduced, thereby extending the functional life of a disc drive which mayotherwise be shortened by failure modes associated with the escape ofsuch evaporated lubricant.

In more specific embodiments of the present disclosure, the disc driveactuator assembly further includes a heat transfer component (orcomponents) and a thermoelectric cooler coupled to the e-block, such asto an interior or exterior surface thereof. The heat transfer componentincludes a cylindrical sleeve that encompasses bearings and conductivelydraws heat from the bearings to the thermoelectric cooler. Thethermoelectric cooler then dissipates the heat into an atmosphere incontact therewith.

In further embodiments, the disc drive actuator assembly may alsoinclude a temperature sensor thermally coupled to the plurality ofbearings, and a control circuit communicatively coupled to thetemperature sensor and the thermoelectric cooler. The control circuitoperates the thermoelectric cooler in response to receiving a signalfrom the temperature sensor indicative of a temperature of the pluralityof bearings (e.g., that the temperature is above or nearing a thresholdtemperature). When the signal received from the temperature sensor isindicative of the temperature of the bearings being below a thresholdtemperature, the control circuit disables or otherwise ramps down thethermoelectric cooler to reduce energy consumption of the disc drive.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to disc driveactuator assemblies in which one or more heat transfer componentsinclude cooling elements such as thermoelectric coolers, piezoelectricpumps, a heat sink, a fan, an integrated heat spreader, other passive oractive cooling elements, or combinations thereof In many embodiments theheat transfer components include materials with high thermalconductivity rates and metals which facilitate heat transfer from thebearings to the atmosphere within the disc drive.

Many aspects of the present disclosure are directed to disc driveactuator assemblies including one or more actuator arms coupled to ane-block. In such embodiments, each actuator arm is arranged to positiona transducer (during operation of the disc drive) relative to aplurality of storage mediums and access data stored thereon. In manyembodiments the heat transfer components are coupled to the e-block witha fastening member. While in operation, rotation of the storage mediumscauses a flow of atmospheric air/gas within the disc drive whichinteracts with the heat transfer components to draw heat away from thebearings. To further facilitate transfer of the heat into theatmosphere, the heat transfer components may include features extendingfrom a surface of the e-block. Exemplary features include extrusionswith a saw-tooth cross section, a wavy cross section, or other shape,orientation, or configuration that enhances or maximizes the overallsurface area of the features to aid heat transfer into the atmosphere.

Many embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to apparatusescomprising a base deck, a plurality of storage mediums, a disc driveactuator assembly, and a heat transfer component. The base deck includesa pivot shaft fixed relative to the base deck. The disc drive actuatorassembly includes a transducer, an e-block, and a plurality of bearings.The e-block facilitates read and write access of the storage mediums bypositioning the transducer over a portion of the storage mediums(corresponding to desired data storage locations for access). Thebearings are rotationally coupled to the pivot shaft of the base deckand the e-block, and facilitate rotation of the e-block around the pivotshaft due to the rotational coupling. The heat transfer component iscoupled to the e-block, and conductively draws heat from the bearingsthrough the e-block to the heat transfer component. The heat transfercomponent then dissipates the heat into an atmosphere in contacttherewith. This dissipation can reduce vaporization and provide otherbenefits, such as by mitigating the generation of rotational torque onthe e-block associated with thermal expansion of the plurality ofbearings.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards differentaspects of disc drive apparatuses, such as those described above, alongwith related methods of manufacture and use. For example, these methodsinclude the manufacture of the entire disc drive apparatuses and/orportions thereof such as the e-block and base.

In one embodiment, a method for mitigating temperature rise of aplurality of bearings in a disc drive apparatus is as follows. A basedeck is provided along with a pivot shaft and a cavity, an e-block, aplurality of bearings, and one or more heat transfer components. Thepivot shaft and cavity of the base deck provide for the coupling of thestorage mediums to the base deck. The e-block facilitates read and writeaccess of the storage mediums by positioning one or more transducerscoupled to the e-block over the storage mediums. Each of the bearingsincludes inner races, outer races, and a plurality of ballstherebetween. The inner race of each bearing is coupled to a pivot shaftof the disc drive, the outer race of each bearing is coupled to transfercomponent(s) is coupled to the e-block and conductively coupled via thee-block to the bearings.

In some implementations, the disc drive apparatus is operated by causingthe e-block to rotate about the pivot shaft, via the plurality ofbearings. During operation, heat induced by rotation of the bearings (orotherwise present) conductively transferred through the e-block to theheat transfer component(s), where the heat is convectively dissipatedinto a surrounding atmosphere.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1A shows a disc drive 100 in accordancewith one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Thedisc drive 100 includes a base deck 102 to which various components ofthe disc drive 100 are mounted. A top cover 104 (shown in partialcutaway fashion) and the base deck 102 are coupled together to form aseated atmospheric environment for the disc drive 100. A spindle motor(shown generally at 106) rotates one or more storage mediums 108 at ahigh speed during operation of the disc drive 100. A transducer 118accesses (writes and/or reads) information on the storage mediums 108through the use of an actuator assembly 110 including an e-block 105.During operation, the e-block 105 and attached transducer 118 rotateabout a pivot shaft 112, using a cartridge bearing assembly 115 toaccess data stored on tracks of the storage mediums 108. This rotation,over time, creates friction which dissipates in the cartridge bearingassembly 115 as heat. In connection with one or more embodiments, it hasbeen recognized/discovered that increased operating temperature of thecartridge bearing assembly 115 induces vaporization of bearing lubricanttherein, and eventual outgassing of the bearing lubricant into a cavitybetween the base deck 102 and the top cover 104. Upon coming intocontact with cooler surfaces within the disc drive 100 the bearinglubricant condenses. Where the bearing lubricant condenses on sensitivecomponents of the disc drive 100 (e.g., storage mediums 108 and/ortransducers 118) this condensation can result in a failure mode of thedisc drive 100. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure aredirected to cooling the cartridge bearing assembly 115 to mitigate orprevent such bearing lubricant vaporization and subsequent outgassinginto the cavity of the disc drive 100 using heat transfer components,which are shown and discussed in greater detail in reference to FIG. 1B.

The actuator assembly 110 includes a plurality of actuator arms 114 thatextend towards the storage medium 108, with one or more flexures 116extending from each of the actuator arms 114. Mounted at the distal endof each of the flexures 116 is a transducer 118 which includes a sliderassembly designed to enable the transducer 118 to fly in close proximityto the corresponding surface of the associated storage medium 108.During operation of the disc drive 100, access requests for data storedon the storage mediums 108, from one or more computer systemscommunicatively coupled to the disc drive 100, require that thetransducer 118 traverse rapidly across the storage mediums 108 betweenlocations of access request storage locations. Throughput performance ofa disc drive 100 is closely tied to the speed at which the transducer118 traverse across the storage mediums 108. To achieve such datathroughput, bearings within the cartridge bearing assembly 115 arerotated at high rates of speed and friction between components of thecartridge bearing assembly 115 dissipates as heat. In some cases, thisheat causes thermal expansion of components of the cartridge bearingassembly 115 which can induce additional friction between the componentsof the cartridge bearing assembly 115 and dissipate additional heat intothe assembly.

The radial position of the transducers 118 over the storage mediums 108are controlled through the use of a VCM 124, which may include a coil126 attached to the actuator assembly 110, as well as one or morepermanent magnets 128 and corresponding magnetically permeablepole-pieces 129 which establish a magnetic field in which the coil 126is immersed. The controlled application of current to the coil 126causes magnetic interaction between the magnetic field of the VCM 124and electromagnetic fields induced in the coil 126, so that the coil 126moves in accordance with the well-known Lorentz relationship. As thecoil 126 moves, the actuator assembly 110 pivots about the pivot shaft112 and the transducers 118 are moved across the surfaces of the storagemediums 108, In performance-focused disc drive applications, theelectrical current of the coil 126 is rapidly changed in order tomaximize disc seek velocity and minimize latency between a read/writerequest to the disc drive and fulfillment of the request. As discussedabove, this rapid movement creates friction between bearings, and innerand outer tracks of the cartridge bearing assembly 115 which dissipatesas heat therein. It has been recognized/discovered that even a smallincrease of temperature in the cartridge bearing assembly 115 can causea significant increase in bearing lubricant vaporization and outgassinginto the cavity of the disc drive 100. As such, various embodiments aredirected toward

A flex assembly 130 provides electrical connection paths for theactuator assembly 110 while allowing pivotal movement thereof duringoperation, and while maintaining a nearly constant and low rotationaltorque on the actuator assembly. Such actuator assemblies suffering fromrotational torque variations greater than 10% during operation of thedisc drive 100 may exhibit significantly reduced seek performance. Oneexample of rotational torque variation that can cause such reduced seekperformance is thermal expansion of components of a cartridge bearingassembly 115 reducing tolerances and inducing increased friction therebetween. A servo controller, which controls the application of currentto the coil 126 inducing movement of the actuator assembly 110 relativeto the base deck 102, must compensate for this inconsistent rotationaltorque on the cartridge bearing assembly 115. Where the servo controlleris unable to accurately compensate for the induced rotational torque onthe cartridge bearing assembly 115, the seek performance and accordinglythe overall data throughput of the disc drive 100 is reduced.Accordingly, various aspects are directed to mitigating temperature risein this context, and addressing related issues.

The flex assembly 130 includes a printed circuit board 132 to which headwires may be connected and routed along the actuator arms 114 and theflexures 116 to the transducers 118. The printed circuit board 132includes circuitry for controlling the write currents applied to thetransducers 118 during a write operation and for amplifying read signalsgenerated by the transducers 118 during a read operation. The flexassembly terminates at a flex bracket 134 for communication through thebase deck 102 (e.g., to a disc drive printed circuit board mounted tothe bottom side of the disc drive 100).

Referring now to FIG. 1B, shown therein is a cross-sectional view of adisc drive 100 including an e-block 105 consistent with an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. E-block 105 is rotationallycoupled to a pivot shaft 112 of the base deck 102 via bearings 137. Thebearings 137 allow the e-block 105 to rotate relative to the pivot shaft112. This rotation causes the balls within each bearing 137 to rotatewhich induces friction between the balls and the inner and outer racesof the bearing. This frictional energy is dissipated in the form ofheat. Over extended periods of use, the heat induced in the bearings 137may otherwise be sufficient to cause bearing lubricant vaporization andultimately cause outgassing of the vaporized lubricant into the interiorenclosure of the disc drive. Once within a cavity of the disc drive 100,vaporized bearing lubricant may condense onto moving components of thedisc drive 100 and cause damage to the moving components which mayultimately lead to failure of the disc drive 100. For example,condensation of such bearing lubricant on the storage medium 108 (asshown in FIG. 1A) can prevent access to data on the storage medium 108beneath the condensation and/or cause damage to the transducer 118 as itflies in close proximity to the corresponding surface of the associatedstorage medium 108. Aspects of the present disclosure reduce or limitthe operating temperature of the bearings 137 by drawing heat from thebearings 137 through the body of the e-block 105 to heat transfercomponents 135 coupled to the e-block 105 and located adjacent voicecoil mount 136. The heat transfer components 135 convectively dissipatethe collected heat energy into the atmosphere of the disc drive 100enclosure. In these contexts, a sufficient amount of heat conductivityis an amount of heat that prevents all of or nearly all of the bearinggrease from vaporizing. The efficiency of the convective transfer ofenergy into the atmosphere is increased due to the flow of atmosphere inthe disc drive 100 enclosure caused by high-speed rotation of thestorage medium therein during operation.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an e-block assembly 200 coupled to a basedeck 202 via pivot shaft 212. The e-block 205 includes a voice coilmount 236 for attaching a coil for a voice coil motor and actuator arms214 for attaching transducers for accessing data on a storage medium.The e-block 205 is rotationally coupled to the pivot shaft 212 via thebearing cartridge assembly 215. As discussed above, during operation ofthe disc drive, the bearing cartridge assembly 215 warms due tofriction, increasing the likelihood that bearing lubricant will vaporizeand outgas into the disc drive cavity. The operating temperature of thebearings are limited or reduced by transferring heat from the bearingswithin the bearing cartridge assembly 215 through the body of thee-block 205 to heat transfer components 240 coupled of the e-block 205utilizing conductive passive cooling. In the present embodiment, theheat transfer components 240 are located on a surface of the e-block 205perpendicular to the flow of atmosphere within the disc drive cavity. Asthe air collides with the surface of the e-block 205, the air flowacross the heat transfer components 240 becomes turbulent increasingeffective heat transfer from the heat transfer components 240 into theatmosphere.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an e-block assembly 300 utilizing athermoelectric cooler 341 to reduce the operating temperature ofbearings within bearing cartridge assembly 315. These bearingsfacilitate rotation about a shaft when coupled via opening 312, andpositioning via actuator arms 314. The thermoelectric cooler 341 usesthe Peltier effect to create a heat flux between a junction of twodifferent types of materials. Specifically, heat is transferred from theside of the device adjacent the bearing cartridge assembly 315 to theexterior surface of the thermoelectric cooler 341 in response to theflow of direct current (“DC”) electricity across the thermoelectriccooler 341. The thermoelectric cooler 341 may, for example, includen-type and p-type semiconductors are placed thermally in parallel toeach other and electrically in series, and joined with a thermallyconductive plate on either side of the thermoelectric cooler 341. Insuch embodiments, when a DC voltage is applied to free ends of then-type and p-type semiconductors, DC current flows across the junctionof the two semiconductors and causes a temperature difference thatinduces thermal heat transfer from the bearing cartridge assembly 315 tothe exterior surface of the thermoelectric cooler 341. The heat is thenconvectively dissipated into the atmosphere surrounding the e-block 305.

FIG. 4A is an isometric view of an e-block assembly 400 utilizing bothactive and passive cooling techniques to reduce the operatingtemperature of a bearing. The e-block assembly 400 includes a bearingcartridge 443 made of a high thermal conductivity material (e.g.,copper, silver, or aluminum). The bearing cartridge 443 is conductivelycoupled to thermoelectric cooler 442 which actively pulls heat from thebearing cartridge 443 and convectively dissipates the heat into anatmosphere adjacent the e-block assembly 400.

FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional view of the e-block assembly 400 ofFIG. 4A. As discussed above, during operation of the disc drive, thee-block 405 is rotated relative to the pivot shaft 412 (coupled to thebase deck 402) causing the balls in the bearings 415 to rotate andinducing frictional energy which dissipates as heat in the bearings 415.The heat induced in the bearings 415 may otherwise be sufficient tocause bearing lubricant vaporization and result in outgassing of thevaporized lubricant into a cavity of the disc drive. To mitigate suchbearing lubricant outgassing, the present embodiment reduces theaccumulation of heat in the bearings 415 by conductively transferringheat via a bearing cartridge 443 made of a high thermal conductivitymaterial to a thermoelectric cooler 442 on a top surface of the e-blockassembly 400. A flow air or gas across the top surface of thethermoelectric cooler 442 dissipates the heat into the atmosphere of thedisc drive, mitigating the potential for bearing lubricant vaporizationthat can ultimately lead to a failure mode of the disc drive.

Based upon the above discussion and illustrations, those skilled in theart will readily recognize that various modifications and changes may bemade to the various embodiments without strictly following the exemplaryembodiments and applications illustrated and described herein. Forexample, the heat transfer components can be any number of passiveand/or active cooling elements, and the path of heat flow away from thebearings is not limited to heat transferred through the e-block to theheat transfer components and into a cavity of the disc drive. In someembodiments, the heat may also be dissipated by drawing the heat fromthe bearings into a pivot shaft of a base deck and convectivelytransferring the heat into an atmosphere outside of the disc drive, orby conductively transferring the heat to a heat sink/cooling system thatserves a number of disc drives in a server-type system. Suchmodifications do not depart from the true spirit and scope of variousaspects of the invention, including aspects set forth in the claims.

1. A disc drive actuator assembly comprising: an e-block including oneor more actuator arms and a voice coil mount on a first surface; aplurality of bearings configured and arranged to facilitate rotation ofthe e-block around a pivot shaft; and one or more heat transfercomponents thermally coupled to a second surface of the e-block that isdifferent than the first surface, and configured and arranged tomitigate temperature rise of the plurality of bearings during operationof a disc drive by conductively drawing heat from the plurality ofbearings through the e-block, and by convectively dissipating the heatinto an atmosphere in contact therewith.
 2. The disc drive actuatorassembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more heat transfer componentsare further configured and arranged with the e-block and bearings tomitigate outgassing of bearing lubricant from within the plurality ofbearings by limiting increases in temperature of the bearing lubricantduring operation of the disc drive, via the heat dissipation.
 3. Thedisc drive actuator assembly of claim 1, further including athermoelectric cooler coupled to a surface of the e-block, the one ormore heat transfer components including a cylindrical sleeve thatencompasses the plurality of bearings, the cylindrical sleeve beingconfigured and arranged to conductively draw heat from the plurality ofbearings to the thermoelectric cooler, and the thermoelectric coolerbeing configured and arranged to dissipate the heat into an atmospherein contact therewith.
 4. The disc drive actuator assembly of claim 3,further including a temperature sensor thermally coupled to theplurality of bearings, and a control circuit communicatively coupled tothe temperature sensor and the thermoelectric cooler, the controlcircuit configured and arranged with the temperature sensor to operatethe thermoelectric cooler in response to receiving a signal from thetemperature sensor indicative of a temperature of the plurality ofbearings relative to a threshold temperature, and disable thethermoelectric cooler in response to receiving a signal from thetemperature sensor indicative of the temperature of the plurality ofbearings relative to a threshold temperature.
 5. The disc drive actuatorassembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more heat transfer componentsinclude cooling elements selected from the group consisting of:thermoelectric coolers, piezoelectric pumps, a heat sink, an integratedheat spreader, and a combination thereof.
 6. The disc drive actuatorassembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more heat transfer componentsinclude a passive heat transfer component configured and arranged topassively conduct heat and an active heat transfer component having athermoelectric cooler.
 7. The disc drive actuator assembly of claim 1,wherein the voice coil mount extends from the first surface of thee-block in a first direction relative to the pivot shaft, and the one ormore heat transfer components extend from the second surface in a seconddirection relative to the pivot shaft that is different than the firstdirection, and are spaced apart from both the actuator arms and voicecoil mount.
 8. The disc drive actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein theone or more heat transfer components extend from an exterior surface ofthe e-block that lies in a plane that is different than a plane in whicha surface from which the voice coil mount extends.
 9. The disc driveactuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more heat transfercomponents include features extending from a surface of the e-block, thefeatures including one or more of the following cross-sections: asaw-tooth cross section, and a wavy cross section.
 10. An apparatuscomprising: a base deck including a pivot shaft fixed relative to thebase deck; a plurality of storage mediums; a disc drive actuatorassembly including: a transducer configured and arranged to access datastorage locations on one of the plurality of storage mediums, an e-blockconfigured and arranged to facilitate read and write access of theplurality of storage mediums by the transducer by positioning thetransducer over a portion of the plurality of storage mediums, thee-block having a voice coil mount on a first surface thereof, and aplurality of bearings rotationally coupled to the pivot shaft of thebase deck and the e-block, the plurality of bearings configured andarranged to facilitate rotation of the e-block around the pivot shaft;and a heat transfer component coupled to a second surface of the e-blockthat is different than the first surface, the heat transfer componentconfigured and arranged to conductively draw heat from the plurality ofbearings through the e-block to the heat transfer component, and todissipate the heat into an atmosphere in contact with the heat transfercomponent.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the heat transfercomponent is further configured and arranged to mitigate bearinglubricant outgassing from within the plurality of bearings associatedwith increased bearing temperature during rotation of the e-blockrelative the pivot shaft.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein theheat transfer component is configured and arranged with the e-block andbearings to mitigate outgassing of the bearing lubricant by conductivelydrawing sufficient heat from the bearing to mitigate temperatureincreases in the bearing lubricant that would cause the bearinglubricant outgassing.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10, further includingactive cooling elements including one or more of the following:thermoelectric coolers, piezoelectric pumps, and fans.
 14. The apparatusof claim 10, wherein the heat transfer component includes passivecooling elements including one or more of the following: a heat sink,and an integrated heat spreader.
 15. The apparatus of claim 10, furtherincluding a thermoelectric cooler coupled to a surface of the e-block,the one or more heat transfer components including a cylindrical sleevethat encompasses the plurality of bearings, the cylindrical sleeveconfigured and arranged to conductively draw heat from the plurality ofbearings to the thermoelectric cooler, and the thermoelectric coolerconfigured and arranged to dissipate the heat into the atmosphere. 16.The apparatus of claim 15, further including a temperature sensorthermally coupled to the plurality of bearings, and a control circuitcommunicatively coupled to the temperature sensor and the thermoelectriccooler, the control circuit configured and arranged with the temperaturesensor to: enable the thermoelectric cooler in response to receiving asignal from the temperature sensor indicative of a temperature of theplurality of bearings being above a threshold temperature, and disablethe thermoelectric cooler in response to receiving a signal from thetemperature sensor indicative of the temperature of the plurality ofbearings being below a threshold temperature.
 17. A method formitigating temperature rise of a plurality of bearings in a disc driveapparatus, the method comprising: providing a base deck with a pivotshaft and a cavity for storing a plurality of storage mediums; providingan e-block that facilitates read and write access of the plurality ofstorage mediums by positioning one or more transducers coupled to thee-block over the plurality of storage mediums, the e-block having avoice coil mount on a first surface thereof; providing the plurality ofbearings, each bearing including an inner race, outer race and aplurality of balls therebetween, the inner race of each bearing coupledto a pivot shaft of the disc drive apparatus, the outer race of eachbearing coupled to the e-block, and the plurality of bearingsfacilitating rotation of the e-block around the pivot shaft; andproviding one or more heat transfer components coupled to a secondsurface of the e-block that is different than the first surface andconductively coupled via the e-block to the plurality of bearings,therein configuring the one or more heat transfer components with thee-block and bearings to mitigate temperature rise of the plurality ofbearings during operation of the disc drive apparatus by conductivelytransferring heat induced by rotation of the plurality of bearingsthrough the e-block to the one or more heat transfer components, andconvectively dissipating the heat from the one or more heat transfercomponents into an atmosphere in contact therewith.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, further including the step of mitigating bearing lubricantoutgassing from within the plurality of bearings associated withincreased bearing temperature during operation of the disc driveapparatus.
 19. The method of claim 17, further including providing athermoelectric cooler coupled to a surface of the e-block, the one ormore heat transfer components including a cylindrical sleeve thatencompasses the plurality of bearings, conductively drawing heat fromthe plurality of bearings to the thermoelectric cooler via thecylindrical sleeve, and dissipating the heat into an atmosphere incontact with the thermoelectric cooler.
 20. The method of claim 19,further including providing a temperature sensor thermally coupled tothe plurality of bearings, and a control circuit communicatively coupledto the temperature sensor and the thermoelectric cooler, enabling thethermoelectric cooler in response to receiving a signal from thetemperature sensor indicative of a temperature of the plurality ofbearings being above a threshold temperature, and disabling thethermoelectric cooler in response to receiving a signal from thetemperature sensor indicative of the temperature of the plurality ofbearings being below a threshold temperature.